Force-cancelling, isobaric audio system with configurable bass and privacy modes

An audio system comprises a plurality of membranes within an enclosure. A first surface of each of the plurality of membranes is part of a shared back volume within the enclosure and pressure within the shared back volume is configured to be isobaric. A second surface of each of the membranes is part of a front volume within the enclosure that includes a plurality of ports. A controller of the audio system is configured to drive the plurality of membranes. In a mode of operation, the controller is configured to match audio output between the plurality of ports, forming pressure waves of equal amplitude and opposite phase and generating a substantially dipole or linear quadrupole sound wave radiation pattern for frequencies above a predefined threshold and mismatch audio output between the plurality of ports for frequencies at or below the predefined threshold to generate a substantially monopole or cardioid sound wave radiation pattern.